Material storage and dispensing packages and methods

ABSTRACT

Packages and methods for storage and dispensing of materials, e.g., high purity liquid reagents and chemical mechanical polishing compositions used in the manufacture of microelectronic device products, including containment structures and methods adapted for pressure-dispensing of high-purity liquids. Liner packaging of liquid or liquid-containing media is described, in which zero or near-zero head space conformations are employed to minimize adverse effects of particle generation, formation of bubbles and degradation of contained material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/912,629 filed on Oct. 25, 2007, which was filed under the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. §371 based on and claiming priority of International PatentApplication No. PCT/US06/15605 filed on Apr. 25, 2006, which claimspriority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/674,578 filed onApr. 25, 2005 and entitled “ZERO HEAD SPACE/MINIMUM HEAD SPACELINER-BASED LIQUID STORAGE AND DISPENSING SYSTEMS ADAPTED FOR PRESSUREDISPENSING and further claims priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/761,608 filed on Jan. 24, 2006 and entitled MATERIALSTORAGE AND DISPENSING PACKAGES AND METHODS. Related subject matter isalso disclosed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/674,579 filedon Apr. 25, 2005 and entitled “LINER-BASED LIQUID STORAGE AND DISPENSINGSYSTEMS WITH EMPTY DETECTION CAPABILITY,” and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/674,577 filed on Apr. 25, 2005 and entitled for“APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR STORAGE AND DISPENSING OF CHEMICAL REAGENTSAND COMPOSITIONS.” The disclosures of all such applications are herebyincorporated by reference herein in their respective entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to material containment systemsthat are useful for storage and dispensing of chemical reagents andcompositions, e.g., high purity liquid reagents and chemical mechanicalpolishing compositions used in the manufacture of microelectronicdevices, and in various embodiments adapted for pressure dispensing ofliquids or other fluids.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In many industrial applications, chemical reagents and compositions arerequired to be supplied in a high purity state, and specializedpackaging has been developed to ensure that the supplied material ismaintained in a pure and suitable form, throughout the package fill,storage, transport, and ultimate dispensing operations.

In the field of microelectronic device manufacturing, the need forsuitable packaging is particularly compelling for a wide variety ofliquids and liquid-containing compositions, since any contaminants inthe packaged material, and/or any ingress of environmental contaminantsto the contained material in the package, can adversely affect themicroelectronic device products that are manufactured with such liquidsor liquid-containing compositions, rendering the microelectronic deviceproducts deficient or even useless for their intended use.

As a result of these considerations, many types of high-purity packaginghave been developed for liquids and liquid-containing compositions usedin microelectronic device manufacturing, such as photoresists, etchants,chemical vapor deposition reagents, solvents, wafer and tool cleaningformulations, chemical mechanical polishing compositions, etc.

One type of high-purity packaging that has come into such usage includesa rigid outer pack containing a liquid or liquid-based composition, orother material, in a flexible liner or bag that is secured in positionin the rigid outer pack by retaining structure such as a lid or cover.Such packaging is commonly and variously referred to as “bag-in-box,”“bag-in-container,” or “bag-in-drum” packaging, depending on thespecific form of the rigid outer pack. The rigid outer pack of thepackaging may for example be formed of a high-density polyethylene orother polymer or metal, and the liner may be provided as a pre-cleaned,sterile collapsible bag of a polymeric film material, such aspolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), low-density polyethylene,polyethylene-based multilayer laminates, PTFE-based multilayerlaminates, polyurethane, or the like, selected to be inert to thecontained liquid or liquid-based material to be contained in the liner.Packaging of such type is commercially available under the trademarkNOWPAK from ATMI, Inc. (Danbury, Conn., USA).

In the dispensing operation involving such liner packaging of liquidsand liquid-based compositions, the liquid is dispensed from the liner byconnecting a dispensing assembly including a dip tube to a port of theliner, with the dip tube immersed in the contained liquid. After thedispensing assembly has been thus coupled to the liner, fluid pressureis applied on the exterior surface of the liner, so that itprogressively collapses and forces liquid through the dispensingassembly for discharge to associated flow circuitry to an end-use site.Alternatively, a negative pressure can be applied to the outlet of theliner or to a dispensing assembly connected thereto, in order to drawthe liquid out of the package.

When liquid materials are shipped in liner-based packages of such type,a gas space is generally maintained above the liquid, as a headspace gasto accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the liquid withoutexcessive mechanical strain being placed on the container.

In consequence, however, as the liquid is agitated during transport andother movement of the package, bubbles can become entrained in thepackaged liquid. If the liquid material has high viscosity, suchbubbles, particularly small ones, can persist in the liquid material fora very long time. Such bubbles are extremely deleterious in use of theliquid, since the entrained bubbles are treated as particles by particleanalyzers typically utilized in quality assurance sampling, and inactual dispensing operations. The use of such particle analyzers isintended to monitor the purity of the liquid for its intended purpose.An erroneous particle count, due to the presence of entrainedmicrobubbles, can result in the rejection or reworking of the liquidmaterial that is in fact of a desired purity character.

Additionally, the presence of microbubbles in the liquid medium may beproblematic from the standpoint of the presence of gas therein. Theentrained gas may interfere with subsequent processing of the liquidmaterial, or it may adversely affect a product manufactured with theliquid material, and render it deficient or even useless for itsintended purpose. Accordingly, elimination of bubble formation in theliner-packaged liquid material is important in relation to the accuracyand reliability of particle counts determine for the material, as wellas for efficient processing as well as manufacturing of end productsusing the liquid material.

Considering now the liner itself, the liner desirably is characterizedby low permeability, to limit the penetration of ambient gases throughthe liner into the liquid therein. High permeability liners result inincreased contact area for gas penetration and contact with the liquidmaterial contained in the liner. Accordingly, liner film materials,having superior barrier properties against gases in the ambientenvironment of the liner, are or may be critical to the utilization ofliner-based packaging for containment of liquid materials that areadversely affected by such ambient gases.

Another characteristic of liners that is of primary importance in manyapplications is the particle-generating character of the liner, viz.,the susceptibility of the liner to shed particles into the liquidmaterial contained therein, e.g., under conditions of expansion andcontraction of the liner, flexing and translational movement of theliner, etc. For purposes of maintaining the quality and purity of theliquid material in the liner, it is desirable to minimize, andpreferably eliminate, such particle shedding by the liner. As a result,efforts have been focused on the development of liner film materialsthat are particle shedding-resistant.

A number of liners are commercially available for liner-based packagingof a wide variety of materials. One such liner is commercially availablefrom ATMI, Inc. (Danbury, Conn.) under the trademark ULTRA, whichincludes polytetrafluoroethylene as a film material. Such liner ischaracterized by extremely low particle counts and thus superiorparticle shedding-resistance, as well has superior chemical inertness inconsequence of its polytetrafluoroethylene film material.

Another liner product is commercially available from ATMI, Inc.(Danbury, Conn.) under the trademark N400 (formerly FX), which isfabricated of a multilayer laminate and is characterized by extremelylow gas permeation rates as well as superior inertness as a result ofthe use of specially formulated polyethylene-based film materials in thelaminate.

The aforementioned polytetrafluoroethylene film-containing liners havefound widespread commercial success. In many applications, however, itis desirable to effect the dispensing operation by application ofpressure on the exterior surface of the liner to progressively compressand compact the liner and thereby effect discharge of the liquidmaterial from the liner, as discussed above. In such applied-pressuredispensing operations, the inherent permeability ofpolytetrafluoroethylene allows the pressurizing gas to penetrate thepolytetrafluoroethylene film, thereby creating a higher probability ofmicrobubble formation in the liquid material contained in the liner.

In general, film materials that have been utilized in fabrication linersvary widely in their permeability and other physical and chemicalproperties. The art has implemented a variety of multilayer films in thefabrication of liners, in attempts to optimize the overallcharacteristics of the liner. As mentioned above,polytetrafluoroethylene has been utilized for reasons of its chemicalinertness, e.g. in the aforementioned ULTRA liner. Ethylene vinylalcohol (EVOH) and nylon have also been utilized due to their very lowpermeation constants, e.g., in the aforementioned N400 (formerly FX)multilayer laminate including such materials, as well as polyethylene.The N400 laminate, while affording good performance properties in manyliquid containment applications, may not be preferred in otherapplications, since (i) the inner layer of such laminate ispolyethylene, which is not as chemically inert as other materials, e.g.,polytetrafluoroethylene, (ii) polyethylene cannot be welded topolytetrafluoroethylene, (iii) air trapped between the liner layersrepresents a virtual leak and (iv) the EVOH film in such laminate,although it provides a good barrier to nitrogen, does not provide asuperior moisture barrier.

A problem related to the foregoing issue of permeation barriercharacteristics of liner films, is dissolution of penetrated gases inthe liquid material. The occurrence of permeation of pressurized gasesthrough the liner will invariably result in some dissolution of gas inthe liquid material, depending on the solubility of the gas and itspartial pressure and concentration in the headspace gas. Suchdissolution of gas is particularly prone to occur duringpressure-dispensing of liquid from the liner. The resulting dissolvedgas thereafter may form bubbles in the liquid material, as the liquidmaterial is dispensed and encounters decreased pressure conditions indownstream flow circuitry and process equipment, relative to thepressure-dispensing conditions that effected gas dissolution in thefirst instance. These bubbles may in turn adversely affect theprocessing of the liquid material and the products manufactured usingsuch liquid material.

For example, in the pressure-dispensing of materials such asphotoresists, top anti-reflective coatings (TARCs) and bottomanti-reflective coatings (BARCs), the formation of microbubbles having asize in a range of 0.1 the 20 μm is a source of potential defects whenthese materials are deposited on wafers. These materials are typicallyfilled into containers in a gas-saturated condition (e.g., saturatedwith air). If the container then is pressurized, more gas will entersolution. In liner-based packages having headspace gas overlying theliquid material, the gas from the headspace will also dissolve into theliquid material if the annular space between the liner and theassociated rigid container is pressurized. The dissolved gas then isvery prone to desorb from the liquid material when the applied pressureis reduced, such as in dispensing pumps on their fill cycle during thedispensing of the liquid from the liner.

The art continues to seek improvements in packaging of materials, e.g.,solids, liquids and liquid-containing compositions, and particularly inliner-based packaging, including efforts focused on the development ofimproved liners having low permeabilities and superior chemicalinertness, and improvements in liner-based package construction,including coupling arrangements and structure for connecting the linerto package closures and/or flow circuitry for filling of the liner ordispensing of material therefrom. SJH—stopped here

SUMMARY

The present invention relates generally to material containment systemsthat are useful for storage and dispensing of materials such as chemicalreagents and compositions, e.g., high purity liquid reagents andcompositions such as chemical mechanical polishing compositions used inthe manufacture of microelectronic devices.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a fluid storage and dispensingpackage, comprising: a vessel having an interior volume; a liner in saidinterior volume, arranged to contain a liquid medium; a flexible,inflatable bladder in said interior volume, said bladder beinginflatable with a fluid medium to contact and retain the liner inposition when the liner contains a liquid medium; and a gas removalcompartment arranged in restricted fluid penetration communication withsaid interior volume of said vessel, and adapted to remove gas from theinterior volume of the vessel when the liner contains liquid medium andthe bladder is inflated.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to fluid storage anddispensing package, comprising a vessel arranged to hold fluid, e.g.,liquid, and a movable and/or flexible barrier that is adapted to (i)apply pressure to fluid in the vessel during dispensing to effectpressure dispensing of fluid from the vessel, without deleteriousfluid/fluid interactions of the fluid in the vessel with other fluid(s)and (ii) restrict head space of fluid in the vessel duringnon-dispensing storage of fluid in the vessel.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a container including a linerfor storing and/or delivering a liquid medium and an inflatable memberarranged to either impart rigidity to the liner or effect dispensingtherefrom of the liquid medium.

A still further aspect of the invention relates to a fluid storage anddispensing package, comprising a vessel arranged to hold fluid, e.g.,liquid, and a bladder in the vessel in contact with the fluid, whereinthe bladder is inflated with an inflation medium and arranged to expandor contract in response to respective contraction or expansion of thefluid in the vessel, so that the bladder compensates for changes involume of the fluid in the vessel.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a bag-in-bag package,comprising an inner bag of a first flexible, expandable material, anouter bag of a second flexible, expandable material, wherein the innerand outer bags are joined to one another to form an inflatable spacetherebetween, and further comprising an inflation passage forintroducing an inflation fluid into the inflatable space, wherebycompressive force is exerted on one of the inner and outer bags torigidify the package and/or to effect pressure dispensing of fluidtherefrom.

A still further aspect of the invention relates to a bag-in-bag packageincluding inflatable compartments that are selectively inflatable and/orfillable, wherein one or more compartment(s) are arranged to contain afluid medium adapted for dispensed use, and the other or others of thecompartment(s) are arranged to be inflated to rigidify the package, withthe inflated compartment(s) being adapted to be further inflated at apoint of use to effect pressure dispensing of the fluid medium from thecompartment(s) containing same.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a liquid medium storage anddispensing package, comprising a container having an interior volume forholding liquid medium, said container including a semi-flexible portionthat is shape-shiftable to vary size of said interior volume availableto hold the liquid medium, whereby the interior volume is selectivelyvariable between an expanded volumetric state providing a greater headspace for said liquid medium and a compacted volumetric state providinga smaller head space for said liquid medium.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a liquid medium storage anddispensing package, comprising a container having an interior volume forholding liquid medium with a head space thereover, said container beingconstructed and arranged to (i) provide sufficient space in the interiorvolume to accommodate expansion/contraction effects of said liquidmedium, and (ii) avoid production of a saturated pressure equal to orgreater than 3 psig (0.21 kg/cm²) in the head space, so that the liquidmedium does not saturate to a pressure of 3 psig or greater when mixedand dispensed.

The invention also relates in one aspect to a method of storing anddispensing a high-purity liquid medium, comprising storing thehigh-purity liquid medium in a liner disposed in a vessel having aninterior volume, retaining the liner in a fixed position in saidinterior volume, with a flexible, inflatable bladder inflated with afluid medium, and removing gas from the interior volume of the vesselduring storage of the high-purity liquid medium in the liner in a fixedposition in the vessel, to maintain the high purity of said liquidmedium.

An additional aspect of the invention relates to a method of storing anddispensing a fluid, comprising introducing fluid into a vessel, anddeploying a movable and/or flexible barrier to (i) apply pressure tofluid in the vessel during dispensing to effect pressure dispensing offluid from the vessel, without deleterious fluid/fluid interactions ofthe fluid in the vessel with other fluid(s) and (ii) restrict head spaceof fluid in the vessel during non-dispensing storage of fluid in thevessel.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of storing anddispensing a fluid, comprising introducing fluid into a vessel anddisposing a bladder in the vessel in contact with the fluid, wherein thebladder is inflated with an inflation medium and arranged to expand orcontract in response to respective contraction or expansion of the fluidin the vessel, so that the bladder compensates for changes in volume ofthe fluid in the vessel.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of packaging amaterial for subsequent dispensing, comprising providing a bag-in-bagpackage, comprising an inner bag of a first flexible, expandablematerial, an outer bag of a second flexible, expandable material,wherein the inner and outer bags are joined to one another to form aninflatable space therebetween, introducing into the inner bag a materialfor subsequent dispensing, and inflating the inflatable space to exertcompressive force on the inner bag, to rigidify the package.

A still further aspect of the invention relates to a method of storingand dispensing a liquid medium, comprising (i) packaging the liquidmedium in a container having an interior volume holding the liquidmedium, said container including a semi-flexible portion that isshape-shiftable to vary size of said interior volume available to holdthe liquid medium, whereby the interior volume is selectively variablebetween an expanded volumetric state providing a greater head space forsaid liquid medium and a compacted volumetric state providing a smallerhead space for said liquid medium, (ii) positioning the semi-flexibleportion to provide the compacted volumetric state for storage of theliquid medium, (iii) after storage in the compacted volumetric state,repositioning the semi-flexible portion to provide the expandedvolumetric state for dispensing of the liquid medium, and (iv)dispensing the liquid medium from the container while the interiorvolume of the container is in the expanded volumetric state.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of storing aliquid medium, comprising packaging the liquid medium in a containerwith a head space over the liquid medium, wherein said packaging (i)provides sufficient space in the interior volume to accommodateexpansion/contraction effects of said liquid medium, and (ii) avoidsproduction of a saturated pressure equal to or greater than 3 psig (0.21kg/cm²) in the head space, so that the liquid medium does not saturateto a pressure of 3 psig or greater when mixed and dispensed.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a bag-in-bag package forstorage and dispensing of liquid medium, comprising a rigid overpackenclosing an interior volume, having disposed therein a first bagsurrounding a second bag, wherein the one of the bags is adapted to holdliquid medium and the other of the bags is inflatable by introduction ofexternally supplied gas thereinto, to exert compression on the one bagfor fixation thereof prior to dispensing, and during dispensingoperation is further inflatable to effect pressure dispensing from theone bag.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a pressure-dispense packagefor storage and dispensing of liquid medium, comprising a vessel adaptedto contain liquid medium therein, with an outlet for dispensing liquidmedium therefrom, and an inflatable bag disposed in a central region ofthe vessel, adapted for coupling to an external gas supply for inflationof the bag to effect pressure-dispensing of liquid medium from thevessel through the outlet.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a polymeric film laminate,comprising an inner ply formed of high purity medium densitypolyethylene, and an outer ply including seven film layers comprisingsuccessively a first layer, adjacent the inner ply, of linear lowdensity polyethylene and medium density polyethylene including ananti-block agent, a first tie layer of anhydride-modified polyethyleneadjacent the first layer, a first polyamide layer adjacent theanhydride-modified polyethylene tie layer, an EVOH layer adjacent thefirst polyamide layer, a second layer of polyamide adjacent the EVOHlayer on a side thereof opposite the side adjacent the first polyamidelayer, a second tie layer of anhydride-modified polyethylene adjacentthe second polyamide layer, and a layer of linear low densitypolyethylene and high density polyethylene including an anti-blockagent.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a liquid medium-suppliedmanufacturing system, comprising:

a manufacturing tool adapted to utilize a liquid medium; anda liquid medium dispensing source joined in flow communication with themanufacturing tool, to dispense the liquid medium thereto;wherein the liquid medium source comprises a source as described herein.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for storage anddispensing of liquid medium, comprising providing a rigid overpackenclosing an interior volume, having disposed therein a first bagsurrounding a second bag, filling one of the bags with liquid medium andinflating the other of the bags with gas, to exert compression on theone bag for fixation thereof prior to dispensing, and during dispensingoperation further inflating the other of the bags to effect pressuredispensing from the one bag.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of storage anddispensing of liquid medium, comprising providing a vessel adapted tocontain liquid medium therein, with an outlet for dispensing liquidmedium therefrom, and an inflatable bag disposed in a central region ofthe vessel, and inflating the bag to effect pressure-dispensing ofliquid medium from the vessel through the outlet.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing aproduct by a process involving utilization of a liquid medium, suchmethod comprising supplying said liquid medium to the process from aliner-based source.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a material containment package,comprising a material containment vessel adapted to contain materialpotentially susceptible to bubble formation therein, having a headspaceassociated therewith, and a vacuum applicator adapted to place theheadspace under vacuum that is sufficient to reduce bubble formationsusceptibility of the material.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a material containmentpackage, comprising a material containment vessel including an interiorvolume adapted to contain material therein, and a port, and a balloondisposed in the interior volume of the vessel and adapted to be at leastpartially inflated to accommodate internal pressure changes due toexpansion and contraction of material contained in the interior volume.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a material containmentpackage including a first liner having an interior volume adapted tohold a first material therein in a sealed condition, and a second linerhaving an interior volume adapted to hold the first liner therein,wherein each of the first and second liners has a fitment allowing fluidcommunication with its interior volume, wherein the fitment of the firstliner is coupleable with the fitment of the second liner to form afitment assembly for the package.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a fitment adapted to besecured to a liner, said fitment comprising an upper generallycylindrical main body portion and a lower outwardly flaring skirtportion defining a flange for liner securement, and a collarintermediate said generally cylindrical main body portion and saidoutwardly flaring skirt portion.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a fitment assemblyincluding a first fitment comprising an upper generally cylindrical mainbody portion and a lower outwardly flaring skirt portion defining aflange for liner securement, and a collar intermediate said generallycylindrical main body portion and said outwardly flaring skirt portion,and a second fitment including an upper central axle portion and a lowerperipheral flange portion, wherein said upper central axle portion andlower peripheral flange portion circumscribe a central opening, and saidsecond fitment is lockingly engageable with the collar of the firstfitment.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a liner-within-a-linermaterial containment package, comprising a fitment assembly including afirst fitment comprising an upper generally cylindrical main bodyportion and a lower outwardly flaring skirt portion defining a flangefor liner securement, and a collar intermediate said generallycylindrical main body portion and said outwardly flaring skirt portion,and a second fitment including an upper central axle portion and a lowerperipheral flange portion, wherein said upper central axle portion andlower peripheral flange portion circumscribe a central opening, and saidsecond fitment is lockingly engageable with the collar of the firstfitment, with a first liner secured to said flange of said loweroutwardly flaring skirt portion of the first fitment, and a second linersecured to said lower peripheral flange portion of said second fitment,with the first liner inside the second liner.

A composite liner constitutes another aspect of the invention andincludes a primary liner attached at an upper end thereof to a fitmentproviding material introduction and removal communication with aninternal volume of the primary liner, and a secondary liner partiallypenetrating and secured to the primary liner with a penetrated portionof the secondary liner disposed in the internal volume of the primaryliner, said secondary liner including a non-penetrating portion exteriorof the primary liner, wherein said penetrated portion of the secondaryliner is gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a material containmentpackage including a vessel containing a liner therein in an interiorvolume of the vessel, wherein the liner is adapted to contain a liquidor liquid-containing material susceptible to dissolved and/or entrainedgas comprising a first gas species, and wherein the interior volume ofthe vessel outside the liner contains a second gas species differentfrom said first gas species.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a multilayer laminatecomprising from innermost to outermost layers in sequence, (i) a layerof polytetrafluoroethylene, (ii) a first tie layer, (iii) afluoropolymer layer, (iv) a second tie layer, (v) a barrier layer, (vi)a third tie layer and (vii) an abrasion film layer.

A liner comprising the multilayer laminate described above constitutesanother aspect of the invention, and a material containment packagecomprising such liner constitutes yet another aspect of the invention.

A still further aspect of the invention relates to a semiconductormanufacturing facility comprising a reagent source coupled inreagent-supplying relationship with a semiconductor manufacturing tool,wherein said reagent source comprises a package selected from among theaforementioned material containment packages of the invention and theliner-within-a-liner containment package of the invention.

In one method aspect, the invention relates to a method of supplyingmaterial susceptible to bubble formation therein, comprising containmentof said material under vacuum that is sufficient to reduce bubbleformation susceptibility of the material.

A further method aspect of the invention relates to a method of materialcontainment, comprising providing a material containment packageincluding a material containment vessel having an interior volumeadapted to contain the material therein, and a port, disposing a balloonin the interior volume of the vessel and at least partially inflatingthe balloon to accommodate internal pressure changes due to expansionand contraction of the material contained in the interior volume.

A method of material containment constitutes another aspect to theinvention, comprising: providing a material containment packageincluding a first liner having an interior volume adapted to hold afirst material therein in a sealed condition, and a second liner havingan interior volume adapted to hold the first liner therein, wherein eachof the first and second liners has a fitment allowing fluidcommunication with its interior volume, wherein the fitment of the firstliner is coupleable with the fitment of the second liner to form afitment assembly for the package; introducing first material into theinterior volume of the first liner through the fitment of the firstliner; and introducing second material into the interior volume of thesecond liner outside the first liner.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method of materialcontainment, comprising: providing a liner-within-a-liner materialcontainment package, comprising a fitment assembly including a firstfitment comprising an upper generally cylindrical main body portion anda lower outwardly flaring skirt portion defining a flange for linersecurement, and a collar intermediate said generally cylindrical mainbody portion and said outwardly flaring skirt portion, and a secondfitment including an upper central axle portion and a lower peripheralflange portion, wherein said upper central axle portion and lowerperipheral flange portion circumscribe a central opening, and saidsecond fitment is lockingly engageable with the collar of the firstfitment, with a first liner secured to said flange of said loweroutwardly flaring skirt portion of the first fitment, and a second linersecured to said lower peripheral flange portion of said second fitment,with the first liner inside the second liner; introducing a firstmaterial into the first liner; and introducing a second material intothe second liner outside the first liner.

A method of making a composite liner constitutes yet another aspect ofthe invention, comprising attaching a primary liner at an upper endthereof to a fitment providing material introduction and removalcommunication with an internal volume of the primary liner, and securingto the primary liner a secondary liner partially penetrating the primaryliner with a penetrated portion of the secondary liner disposed in theinternal volume of the primary liner, with said secondary linerincluding a non-penetrating portion exterior of the primary liner,wherein said penetrated portion of the secondary liner is gas-permeablebut liquid-impermeable.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of using acomposite liner made by the foregoing method, including introducing aliquid into the primary liner, and coupling the non-penetrating portionof the secondary liner to a vacuum source for extraction of dissolvedand entrained gas from said liquid.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a material containmentmethod, comprising providing a package including a vessel containing aliner therein in an interior volume of the vessel, introducing into theliner a liquid or liquid-containing material susceptible to dissolvedand/or entrained gas comprising a first gas species, and introducinginto the interior volume of the vessel outside the liner a second gasspecies different from said first gas species.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of fabricating acontainer for a material, including forming a liner from a multilayerlaminate, in which the multilayer laminate includes from innermost tooutermost layers in sequence, (i) a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene,(ii) a first tie layer, (iii) a fluoropolymer layer, (iv) a second tielayer, (v) a barrier layer, (vi) a third tie layer and (vii) an abrasionfilm layer.

A method of storing and dispensing a material is contemplated in anotheraspect of the invention, comprising a use of a package selected from thegroup consisting of the aforementioned material containment packages ofthe invention and the liner-within-a-liner containment package of theinvention.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing asemiconductor device, comprising supplying a semiconductor manufacturingreagent to a semiconductor manufacturing tool from a chemical reagentpackage selected from the group consisting of the aforementionedmaterial containment packages of the invention and theliner-within-a-liner containment package of the invention.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of operating asemiconductor manufacturing facility comprising supplying a reagent to asemiconductor manufacturing tool, from a package selected from the groupconsisting of the aforementioned material containment packages of theinvention and the liner-within-a-liner containment package of theinvention.

A still further aspect of the invention relates to a method of supplyingmaterial for semiconductor manufacturing to a semiconductormanufacturing facility, comprising transporting said material to saidsemiconductor manufacturing facility in a package selected from thegroup consisting of the aforementioned material containment packages ofthe invention and the liner-within-a-liner containment package of theinvention.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of packaging amaterial, comprising introducing said material into a package selectedfrom the group consisting of the aforementioned material containmentpackages of the invention and the liner-within-a-liner containmentpackage of the invention.

In yet another method aspect of the invention, a method of packaging amaterial includes confining the material in a contained volume using amultilayer laminate comprising from innermost to outermost layers insequence, (i) a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene, (ii) a first tielayer, (iii) a fluoropolymer layer, (iv) a second tie layer, (v) abarrier layer, (vi) a third tie layer and (vii) an abrasion film layer,wherein the layer of polytetrafluoroethylene is disposed in contact withsaid material.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a material storage anddispensing package, comprising a vessel enclosing an interior volume andadapted for dispensing of material therefrom, a first liner disposed inthe interior volume and arranged therein for holding a material to bedispensed from the package during such dispensing, and a second linerdisposed in the interior volume and adapted to be inflated to exertpressure on the first liner to effect such dispensing of material fromthe package.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of supplyingmaterial, comprising use of such package.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of storage anddispensing of a material, comprising providing a vessel having aninterior volume, disposing the material in a first liner in the interiorvolume, wherein the first liner is adapted for dispensing of thematerial from the vessel, providing a second liner in the vessel, andinflating the second liner to cause the second liner to compress thefirst liner so that the material in the first liner is dispensed fromthe vessel.

Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be morefully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of a liner-based fluid storage anddispensing package, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a fluid storage and dispensingpackage according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a fluid storage and dispensingpackage according to a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a fluid storage and dispensingpackage according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a bag-in-bag liquid mediumpackage according to another embodiment of the invention, in sectionalelevation view.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a liquid medium packageaccording to a further embodiment of the invention, in sectionalelevation view.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a film laminate according to oneaspect of the invention, in cross-section, showing the component layersof the laminate.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a liquid medium-suppliedmanufacturing system, according to a further aspect of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a material container, accordingto one embodiment of the invention

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the FIG. 9 container, uponfilling thereof with liquid, and expansion of the balloon therein, toprovide a zero headspace or near-zero headspace conformation.

FIGS. 11-20 illustrate the fabrication of a double liner-based containerand the components and structures in the various assembly steps of thefabrication.

FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of a composite liner, according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 is a schematic representation of a liner-based package,including a rigid outer container enclosing an interior volume withinwhich it is disposed a liner suspended from the neck of the vessel,according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 is a sectional elevation view of a multilayer laminate useful inthe general practice of the present invention for construction of linersadapted for use in liner-based material containment packages.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a liner-based package of abag-in-bottle type, according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to liner-based liquid containment systemsfor storage and dispensing of chemical reagents and compositions ofwidely varied character. Although the invention is hereafter describedprimarily with reference to storage and dispensing of liquid orliquid-containing compositions for use in the manufacture ofmicroelectronic device products, it will be appreciated that the utilityof the invention is not thus limited, but rather the invention extendsto and encompasses a wide variety of other applications and containedmaterials.

Although the invention is discussed hereinafter with reference tospecific embodiments including various liner-based packages andcontainers, it will be appreciated that various of such embodiments,e.g., as directed to pressure-dispense arrangements or other features ofthe invention, may be practiced in liner-less package and containersystems.

The term “microelectronic device” as used herein refers to resist-coatedsemiconductor substrates, flat-panel displays, thin-film recordingheads, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and other advancedmicroelectronic components. The microelectronic device may includepatterned and/or blanketed silicon wafers, flat-panel display substratesor polymeric, e.g., fluoropolymer, substrates. Further, themicroelectronic device may include mesoporous or microporous inorganicsolids.

In liner packaging of liquids and liquid-containing compositions(hereafter referred to as liquid media), it is desirable to minimize thehead space of the liquid medium in the liner. The head space is thevolume of gas overlying the liquid medium in the liner.

The liner-based liquid media containment systems of the presentinvention have particular utility in application to liquid media used inthe manufacture of microelectronic device products. Additionally, suchsystems have utility in numerous other applications, including medicaland pharmaceutical products, building and construction materials, foodproducts, etc., where liquid media or liquid materials requirepackaging.

As used herein, the term “zero head space” in reference to fluid in aliner means that the liner is totally filled with liquid medium, andthat there is no volume of gas overlying liquid medium in the liner.

Correspondingly, the term “near zero head space” as used herein inreference to fluid in a liner means that the liner is substantiallycompletely filled with liquid medium except for a very small volume ofgas overlying liquid medium in the liner, e.g., the volume of gas isless than 5% of the total volume of fluid in the liner, preferably beingless than 3% of the total volume of fluid, more preferably less than 2%of the total volume of fluid and most preferably, being less than 1% ofthe total volume of fluid (or, expressed another way, the volume ofliquid in the liner is greater than 95% of the total volume of theliner, preferably being more than 97% of such total volume, morepreferably more than 98% of such total volume, and most preferably morethan 99% of such total volume).

The greater the volume of the head space, the greater the likelihoodthat the overlying gas will become entrained and/or solubilized in theliquid medium, since the liquid medium will be subjected to sloshing,splashing and translation in the liner, as well as impact of the lineragainst the rigid surrounding container during transportation of thepackage. This circumstance will in turn result in the formation ofbubbles, microbubbles, and particulates in the liquid medium, whichdegrade the liquid medium, and render it potentially unsuitable for itsintended purpose. For this reason, head space is desired to be minimizedand preferably eliminated (i.e., in a zero or near-zero head spaceconformation) with complete filling of the interior volume of the linerwith liquid medium.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of aliner-based fluid storage and dispensing package 10, according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

The fluid storage and dispensing package 10 of FIG. 1 includes a vesselwith a cylindrical side wall 12, floor 14, tapered frustoconicalshoulder 16, and cylindrical neck 18, enclosing interior volume 20. Inthe interior volume 20 is disposed a liner 22, filled with a liquid orliquid-containing composition (such liquid or liquid-containingcomposition hereafter being referred to as “liquid medium”).

The liquid medium can be of any suitable type, e.g., a semiconductormanufacturing liquid medium, such as photoresist, etchant, dopant,chemical vapor deposition reagent, solvent, wafer or tool cleaningformulation, chemical mechanical polishing composition, etc.

The interior volume 20 also has disposed therein a flexible inflatablebladder 24 that has been inflated with a suitable fluid medium, such asa gas or liquid. A preferred fluid medium is inert gas, such as helium,krypton, argon, etc., or a gas that is non-reactive in exposure to thematerials in the interior volume 20, if such fluid medium were topermeate out of the bladder and enter the free space in the interiorvolume. The bladder can be of any suitable type. For example, it can bea non-rigid, or alternatively a semi-rigid, liner. In one specificembodiment, the bladder is constituted by a relatively rigid liner thatis folded or rolled up, and unfolds or unrolls when inflated therebyexerting force to dispense liquid.

By filling the bladder 24 with a fluid medium of appropriate volume, thebladder is caused to bear on the liner 22, and to positionally retainthe bladder in position in the interior volume 20. Such fixed positionalretention of the liner 22 avoids the circumstance in which the liquidmedium in the liner is subjected to impact against the interior surfacesof the vessel during transport, installation, etc., since the resultingforces on and translation of the liquid medium and liner may causeadverse effect on the liquid medium, e.g., resulting in particlegeneration in the liquid medium reducing its purity and suitability forits ultimate use.

Secured to the upper end of the neck 18 of the vessel is a cap 26, whichmay be leak-tightly secured to the vessel in any suitable manner, e.g.,by welding, brazing, mechanical fastening, or any other means or methodthat is effective to secure the cap in position.

The cap as shown is provided with an interior passage 32 in fluidcommunication with the interior volume of the bladder 24. The cap alsois provided with a cavity therein receiving a port 28 of the liner 22.The port is disposed in the cavity, so that the fluid medium in theliner 22 can be accessed through passage 30 in the cap. For thispurpose, the port may be open to the passage 30, or the port may beprovided with a closure, such as a membrane element or other seal,serving to keeping the liquid medium in the liner in an isolated state.

At its top surface, the cap 26 may be overlaid by a closure 34, such asa gasket or a seal. The closure may for example be adhesively secured tothe cap top surface with a suitable low-tack adhesive, enablingpeel-away removal of the closure when the vessel is deployed for use,and it is desired to access the liquid medium for dispensing from theliner in the vessel.

In the FIG. 1 arrangement, the cap 26 at its upper portion is threadedon its exterior side surface, to permit the cap to be threadably engagedwith an overcap 36, which is complementarily threaded on an interiorsurface at its lower portion, as illustrated. The overcap may beemployed to ensure sealing of the vessel contents, but may in someembodiments be omitted. Alternatively, the passages 30 and 32 in the cap26 may each be individually sealed by a plug or other closure element(not shown in FIG. 1).

In the interior volume 20 of the vessel is a gas removal compartment 40,which may as illustrated be formed by an enclosure structure that issecured to the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall 12 of thevessel, to define an enclosed interior volume 42. The interior volume 42of the compartment 40 is in restricted fluid penetration communicationwith the interior volume 20 of the vessel outside of compartment 40,i.e., fluid in the interior volume 20 of the vessel can penetrate intothe interior volume 42 of the compartment, but such penetration isrestricted by the walls of the compartment, or in other suitable manner.

For example, the walls of the compartment 40 may be formed of a materialthat is permeable to gas flux therethrough, so that when pressure in theinterior volume 42 of the compartment 40 is below pressure in theinterior volume 20 of the vessel outside of the compartment 40, thedifferential in pressure as well as concentration will mediate a flux ofgas through the walls of the compartment.

Alternatively, the walls of the compartment 40 may be formed withopenings therein having membranes across the openings, wherein themembranes are permeable to gas diffusion and permit gas to enter theenclosure.

As another alternative, the interior wall surface of the compartment 40may have a getter 44 deposited thereon, wherein the getter ischemisorptive for atmospheric gases that may be present in the interiorvolume 20 of the vessel, such as oxygen, nitrogen, trace hydrocarbons,etc. The getter may be of any suitable composition, e.g., elementalbarium, strontium, or other suitable material having chemisorptivereactivity with the gas species of interest that may be present in theinterior volume of the vessel, and which if not removed, may diffusethrough the liner into the liquid medium held therein.

As a still further alternative, the interior volume 42 of thecompartment 40 may be evacuated. For such purpose, the wall of thevessel, e.g., side wall 12, may have an evacuation orifice 46 therein,for selective withdrawal of gas from the interior volume 42 of theenclosure 40. Orifice 46 in the illustrated arrangement communicateswith a discharge port 48 having an interior passage therein (not shownin FIG. 1) and terminating in the coupling flange 50, by means of whichthe port may be connected with a vacuum pump, or other vacuum withdrawalapparatus, e.g., an eductor, ejector, turbine, fan, cryopump, or thelike. The port 48 in the FIG. 1 drawing is shown as being capped atflange 50 of port 48 by closure cap 52. In such arrangement, theevacuation of the compartment 40 permits any extraneous gas present inthe interior volume 20 of the vessel to permeate into the interiorvolume 42 of the compartment 40, whereby the pressure and presence ofgas in the interior volume 20 outside of the compartment, may beminimized.

In another alternative arrangement, an evacuated space can also beprovided in the container by providing a space between two liner layersthat can be put under vacuum.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 1 provides a zero headspace conformationof the liner to be achieved, wherein the liquid can be filled to theport 28 of the liner, so that there is no void volume of air, vapor ofthe liquid, or other gas in the liner above the liquid. This is animportant feature since the presence of any void volume of gas above theliquid in the liner has been found to produce bubbles, such as whenpressure is exerted on the exterior surface of the liner during thedispensing operation, or alternatively during transport of the packageafter the liner has been filled, when any sloshing, splashing or thelike that occurs incident to the transport or movement of the packageproduces gas-liquid interfacial area that effects solubilization andentrainment of the head space gas in the liquid.

This phenomenon (of sloshing, splashing of the liquid medium when thereis a head space containing gas in the liner) has also been found toincrease the production of particles in the liquid, which may forexample take place as a result of particle shedding from the interiorsurface of the liner, or by coalescence or precipitation andagglomeration of suspended matter in the liquid, during the sloshing,splashing and other displacement of the liquid medium.

Such bubble and particle formation is severely detrimental in manyinstances, and is inconsistent with the high-purity desired for theliquid medium that will ultimately be dispensed from the liquid mediumpackage. Further, any dissolved gases in the liquid medium will formbubbles if the pressure in the system is lowered, such as during thefill cycle of the pump that is used to effect introduction of liquidmedium into the liner during the filling operation.

The provision of a zero headspace conformation of the liner, so that itis fully filled with liquid medium, assists in minimizing the bubble andparticle formation problem discussed above, but it remains difficult toremove all bubbles from the package.

The FIG. 1 package addresses this residual bubbles problem. The liner 22is filled with the liquid medium, and the bladder is expanded with asuitable pressurizing gas, to a pressure above the dispense pressure ofthe package. As an illustrative example, the liner may be subjected to adispense pressure of 7 psig exerted on the exterior surface of the linerto effect compression of the liner and discharge of the liquid mediumtherefrom. In such embodiment, the bladder may be pressurized to apressure of 10 psig, suitably above such dispense pressure level. Duringthis pressurization, the liner package is vented, as is the interiorvolume 20 of the vessel, to accommodate the displacement of fluid fromthe liner as well as from the interior volume 20.

It will be appreciated that the liner and the bladder may each beprovided with valves (not shown in FIG. 1) to isolate them from theatmosphere or other ambient environment of the package.

In a specific illustrative embodiment, the liquid medium is introducedinto the liner to provide a zero head space conformation of the liner,and the filled package after expansion of the bladder with a suitablepressurizing gas is sealed. The package is thereafter maintained in asealed state for an extended period of time, e.g., 30-45 days, beforethe package is opened and dispensing takes place. In the dispenseoperation, the package is coupled with a dispensing assembly including adip tube connected to a dispense head, and pressure is exerted on theexterior surface of the liner, to dispense the liquid medium from thepackage. In such arrangement, after the package is filled and prior tothe time the package is coupled to the dispense assembly, the pressureinside the zero head space liner will be at the pressure in theinflatable bladder and above the pressure in the interior volume 20outside of the liner and the bladder. Such arrangement will cause anyresidual gas in the liner, e.g., trapped or solubilized in the liquidmedium, to permeate through the liner to the interior volume 20 outsidethe liner during the storage, transport and other non-dispensing use ofthe package.

Further, such arrangement of the bladder and liner addresses thesituation in which the fill operation is carried out with less thancomplete liquid medium fill of the liner, so as to accommodate thermalexpansion and contraction of the fluid in the liner, without adverseeffect. By providing a pressurized bladder having a pressure above thedispensing pressure of the fluid in the liner, head space gas overlyingthe liquid medium in the liner permeates out of the liner into theinterior volume of the vessel exterior of the liner. In such fashion,the non-zero head space package tends to progress in subsequentpre-dispensing circumstances to a true zero head space package.

In order to prevent an over-pressure situation from developing in theinterior volume 20 of the vessel, two paths can be used to relieve anysuch over-pressure. If the leak rate of the cap 26 to the ambientenvironment of the package is sufficient, then the excess gas pressurefrom the zero head space liner would leak out of the package to theambient environment. If the package is alternatively very leak-tight,then an interior compartment such as compartment 40 can be employed,which is constructed and arranged for gas in-leak into the compartmentto alleviate any overpressure condition in the exterior volume 20outside the compartment.

As discussed above, the compartment can be under vacuum at the time thatthe package is sealed after fluid medium filling of the liner. Thecompartment provides an expansion volume to prevent pressure in theinterior volume 20 of the vessel from rising as bubbles in the zero headspace liner transpire into the interior volume 20.

It will be recognized that in lieu of a compartment secured to aninterior wall surface of the vessel, it may be desirable in someinstances to simply deploy a compartment article as a discrete,unattached article that is disposed in the interior volume of thevessel, or that is positionally retained in the vessel, in anappropriate manner. For example, the compartment article may comprise acapsule or a canister, e.g., with walls or other surface permeable toin-leaking gas, or valved for in-flow of gas when pressure in theinterior volume of the vessel exceeds a set point of an inflow valveprovided in such capsule or canister.

The bladder in the foregoing arrangement is appropriately made of amaterial that is highly impermeable material to prevent any leakage outof the bladder into the interior volume of the vessel. Since the bladderdoes not come into contact with the liquid medium contained in theliner, there are no compatibility issues in materials selection for thematerial of construction of the bladder.

The liner in the arrangement described in FIG. 1, in order to removegases from the interior volume of the liner, must be made of a materialhaving some, albeit small, permeability to the gas species that isdesired to be removed. Potential materials of construction include,without limitation, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride,polyurethane, polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, and compatiblecopolymers of monomers thereof, and laminates including at least onelayer of such polymers or copolymers. The liner can be formed byco-extrusion, solvent casting, or other appropriate technique.

The bladder may likewise be formed of any suitable material ofconstruction that is flexible, resilient and expansible, in order forthe bladder to be inflated to suitable pressure. The bladder can beformed of any suitable elastomeric material, including natural rubbers,synthetic elastomers, memory metal foils, or the like. The pressurizinggas can be any suitable gas, and preferably is a gas that is notdeleterious to the package or the liquid medium contained therein.

The bladder provides a mechanical pressurization of the zero head spaceliner, and therefore little or no gas diffusion occurs if pressure inthe interior volume 20 of the vessel is not elevated.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a liquid storage anddispensing package according to another embodiment of the invention,which applies a head space to the vessel by a movable and/or flexiblebarrier without effecting deleterious gas-liquid interactions.

As discussed hereinabove, liquid media that are used in manyapplications are susceptible to degradation by factors related to headspace gas interaction with the liquid medium that is package forstorage, transport, and ultimately, dispensing of the liquid medium.Circumstances relating to such degradation include, without limitation,gas entrainment, formation of bubbles and microbubbles, particlegeneration, particle agglomeration, solvent evaporation, andconcentration variations.

Currently, various liquid medium vessels are subject to regulations thatrequire the provision of expansion space in the vessel, i.e., so thathead space gas overlies the liquid.

The liquid storage and dispensing package 80 shown in FIG. 2 utilizes aflexible and movable barrier in the form of bladder 92 in the interiorvolume 90 of the vessel 82 of such package. The vessel 82 includes acylindrical side wall 84, top end wall 86 and bottom end wall 88enclosing such interior volume 90.

The interior volume 90 contains a liquid medium, which may for exampleinclude a microelectronic device manufacturing liquid medium, such asphotoresist, etchant, chemical vapor deposition reagent, solvent, waferor tool cleaning formulation, chemical mechanical polishing composition,etc. The vessel 82 is coupled with a dispensing assembly 94, whichincludes a dip tube 98 extending vertically downwardly into the interiorvolume of the vessel, and joined at its upper end to dispense head 96.The dispense assembly is coupled with the package 80 when it is desiredto dispense the liquid medium from the vessel, or to ready the packagefor such future operation. The dip tube, while illustratively employedin the FIG. 2 embodiment, is not essential for the dispense operation,and the system may be alternatively configured without such dip tube,with pressure dispensing being carried out through a hole in the top ofthe container.

The dispense assembly 94 may be coupled in turn to suitable flowdispensing circuitry, indicated schematically in FIG. 2 by arrow B,whereby the liquid medium is conveyed to a locus of use, such as aliquid medium-utilizing apparatus.

To apply head space to the liquid medium in the vessel 82 withoutdeleterious contacting of the liquid medium, the apparatus shown in FIG.2 uses a flexible and/or movable barrier that is used to apply pressureto the body of liquid medium in the vessel, so that it is dispensed fromthe vessel under the action of such pressure. The flexible and/ormovable barrier in the FIG. 2 system is bladder 92, which is coupled toan inflation assembly schematically indicated by arrow A in the drawing.

The inflation assembly can be any source of pressurizing fluid that isintroduced into the interior volume of the bladder 92 for expansionthereof, to confine the liquid, e.g., to provide zero head space duringtransport and storage of the package, and upon installation fordispensing of liquid medium from the vessel, the bladder 92 may becoupled to an inflation assembly to further expand the bladder, toeffect pressure dispensing of the liquid medium through the dispensingassembly to the flow circuitry schematically indicated by arrow B.

The bladder may for the purpose of pressurization be accompanied by aninflation assembly that is on-board the liquid medium package, orprovided as a separate module associated with the package. The bladdermay be formed of any suitable material of construction, such as naturalrubbers, synthetic elastomers, natural/synthetic elastomer blends, etc.,and may be pressurized with any suitable pressurizing gas, such as air,nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, etc.

The bladder in the FIG. 2 embodiment could alternatively be replaced byother barrier structure, such as for example a disc-shaped barrier thathas a central opening therein, to accommodate passage of the dip tubetherethrough, wherein the disc-shaped barrier is aligned in the interiorvolume of the vessel with its main top and bottom surfaces parallel tothe top end wall 86 and the bottom end wall 88 of the vessel. Thebarrier in such arrangement is adapted to translate vertically up anddown in the interior volume 90, with the outer edge of such barrier influid-tight contact with the interior surface of the cylindrical sidewall 84, and the central opening of the barrier being in fluid-tightcontact with the dip tube, so that movement of the barrier does not mixthe liquid medium and the pressurizing gas. The pressurizing gas therebyis introduced to the vessel 82 to exert pressure on the top face of thebarrier, thereby transmitting such pressure to the liquid, to effectpressure dispensing of the liquid medium through the dip tube 98 and thedispense head 96 as previously described.

Such arrangement of the flexible and/or movable barrier can be appliedto any vessel, fluid package, etc., including bottles, bags, boxes,bag-in-box containers, canisters, and the like. The barrier allows forexpansion space in the vessel, where required by applicable regulations,while keeping the liquid medium separate from the pressurizing fluid.

Although described with reference to the use of a pressurizing gas asthe pressurizing fluid for the bladder in the embodiment of FIG. 2, itwill be appreciated that liquid may be used as the pressurizing fluidfor effecting pressure dispensing of the liquid medium in FIG. 2.

It will likewise be appreciated that although the embodiment of FIG. 2has been described with reference to a liquid medium being the materialdispensed in such embodiment, gas or vapor may alternatively be themedium contained in the vessel 82 and dispensed therefrom under theimpetus of the expanded bladder being filled with fluid.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a fluid storage and dispensingpackage according to a further embodiment of the invention, wherein allparts and features are numbered correspondingly with respect to the sameparts and features in the embodiment shown and described with referenceto FIG. 2.

The FIG. 3 embodiment differs from that shown in FIG. 2, in theprovision of a plug 100 captivating the fluid inside the bladder 92, sothat the fluid in the interior volume of the vessel 82 can expand orcontract due to temperature variation, chemical reactions, etc., withthe fluid in the bladder 92 in turn being correspondingly contracted orexpanded during to variation in pressure in such fluid.

The fluid in the bladder may be any suitable liquid or gaseous medium,and the fluid in the interior volume 90 of the vessel 82 may likewise beany suitable liquid or gaseous medium. The fluids in the bladder 92 andin the interior volume 90 of the vessel 82 are thereby in dynamicequilibrium with one another, to accommodate variations in conditions ofthe fluids and the environmental conditions of the vessel, such asambient temperature, etc.

The plug 100 may be provided in the form of a valve, openable port orthe like, to accommodate coupling thereto of a fluid source, foraddition of fluid to the interior volume of the bladder 92, for pressuredispensing of the fluid in the interior volume 90 of the vessel 82, orthe plug may comprise a pressure relief valve which can accommodateoverpressure conditions developing in the vessel 82 by releasing fluidfrom the bladder 92, whereby the fluid in the vessel can expand torelieve overpressure increases that would otherwise compromise thesafety or structural integrity of the fluid package 80.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a fluid storage and dispensingpackage according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

The package 110 of FIG. 4 is a composite package structure including anouter bag 112 that is circumscribingly arranged about the periphery ofan inner bag 116. The inner and outer bags in the embodiment shown areformed of sheet film stock, and are welded at edges of the sheets sothat each bag encloses an interior volume, and is inflatable or fillablewith liquid medium, or other fluid or solid material, or material insome other form. There is a space between the respective bags that ispressurizable. The inner bag 116 as shown is provided with a fitment 118thereon, which includes an end opening 120, to allow ingress and egressof material to and from the interior volume of the inner bag. Thefitment opening 120 may be closed with a suitable closure member, e.g.,a cap or other closure article or material.

The bag assembly has a weld area 122 representing the juncture of fourfilms used in the illustrated composite package article.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the outer bag 112 is providedwith a pressurization air inlet 114 that communicates with the spacebetween the respective bags 112 and 116. In this manner, air or otherpressurizing gas can be introduced through the pressurization air inletto pressurize the space between the bags, e.g., so that pressure can beexerted on the inner bag to assist in dispensing liquid medium or otherfluid material under the applied pressure thereon.

Thus, the inner bag 116 can be filled with a liquid medium or othermaterial, and subsequent to such filling, pressurizing gas can beintroduced to the pressurization inlet 114 to expand the outer bag, andplace it in compressive bearing relationship to the inner bag, so as topositionally fix the overall article, and rigidify same.

The inflation passage in pressurization air inlet 114 may contain aself-closing valve, or the air inlet may be cappable or other closablewith a closure of appropriate form.

At the point of use of the material contained in the inner bag, thepressurization air inlet may be coupled with a source of pressurized airor other pressurizing gas, and the space between the respective bags maybe further pressurized to expand the outer bag and increase the pressureexerted on the bag for effecting pressure discharge of the containedmaterial from the inner bag.

The inner and outer bags may be constructed in any other suitablemanner, to provide selectively inflatable or expansible compartments orvolumes that cooperate to enable filling of one or more compartment(s)with a fluid medium or other material, and the other or others of thecompartment(s) to be pressurized to rigidify the overall article forstorage, transport, etc., and with the compartment(s) being able to befurther pressurized at the point of use to achieve pressure-assisteddispensing of the contained fluid or other material from the storagecompartment(s).

Such multi-volume article provides a convenient and effective storageand dispensing article for high-purity and ultra-high purity liquidmedia, such as chemical reagents used in the manufacture ofmicroelectronic device devices and products.

The respective compartments of the multi-compartment storage anddispensing article can be formed of any suitable materials ofconstruction, e.g., natural and synthetic rubbers, non-rubberelastomers, polymeric elastomeric blends, expansible memory metal films,etc.

In the FIG. 4 package, the liquid to be dispensed can be contained (i)in the inner liner, (ii) between the inner and outer liners, or (iii) inthe case of a four-weld liner, in one of the outer compartments betweenthe liners.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a bag-in-bag liquid mediumpackage 200 according to another embodiment of the invention, insectional elevation view. The package 200 includes a vessel 202 whichmay for example be formed of a polymeric, metal or other suitablematerial of construction, forming an overpack structure, within which isdisposed a first bag 204 enclosing interior volume 205. The first bag204 surrounds the interiorly positioned second bag 206 enclosinginterior volume 207. The second bag 206 in its interior volume 207contains liquid medium such as a chemical reagent, in a zero head spaceconformation of the liner defined by the second bag.

The first bag 204 surrounding the second bag is filled in its interiorvolume 205 with an inflation gas, such as air, nitrogen, argon, etc. Thevessel 202 is capped with a cap 208, which may be configured with portor coupling elements, for joining of the package to suitable dispenseapparatus, as well as a gas source of inflation gas, so that the firstbag 204 can be inflated to a desired extent, to effect pressuredispensing of liquid medium from the second bag 206.

The first bag 204 by such arrangement circumscribes the second bag andexerts compressive force thereon. The magnitude of the compressive forceis dependent on the level of inflation pressure in the first bag 204,and such pressure can be modulated to progressively increase and therebyexpand the first bag, so that liquid medium is compressively squeezedfrom the second inner bag 206 under the progressively increasingpressure exerted thereon.

In this manner, the liquid medium is dispensed from the package to anexternal point of use.

The FIG. 5 embodiment thus illustrates the use of an annularlycircumscribing bat that serves in essence as a pressure cuff on theinner bag to effect the pressure dispensing operation.

It will be appreciated that the package of FIG. 5 may be arranged andoperated so that it is the inner bag 206 that is pressurized withinflation gas to expand the bag and exert pressure compressively againstthe outer bag. In such arrangement, then the outer bag would contain theliquid medium, which would be dispensed from the outer bag through flowpassage structure in the cap and to the external locus of use.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a liquid medium package 250according to a further embodiment of the invention, in sectionalelevation view, which also utilizes a central bag 256 in a container252, but without the outer bag as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5. Inthe FIG. 6 arrangement, the central bag is an inflation gas-filled bagin operation of the package for dispensing. The bag 256 is surrounded byliquid medium 254 in the container 252, and as the bag 256 is expandedby the inflation gas introduced thereinto in gas feed line 264 from gassource 266, the bag exerts pressure on the liquid medium surrounding it.The liquid medium, as an incompressible medium, responsively isdispensed from the container in discharge line 262 in the cap 260.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a film laminate 300 according toone aspect of the invention, in cross-section, showing the componentlayers of the laminate. The laminate is of a construction that isadvantageous for containment of liquid medium, as a material ofconstruction for liners for use in connection with liquid mediumpackages. The laminate thus may be advantageously used in connectionwith liquid medium storage and dispensing packages, including thosedisclosed herein, and is advantageous in application to zero head spaceliners, due to its low permeability and high strength characteristics.

The laminate 300 as shown is a two-ply laminate including an inner plyof high purity medium density polyethylene (MDPE), and an outer plyincluding the seven component layers 304-316 that are co-extruded by aprocess in which the seven extruded component layers are passed througha die and then processed as blown film, slit and consolidated as sheetfilm stock with the inner ply high purity MDPE layer. Such co-extrusionand film processing operations per se are of a conventional characterknown to those skilled in the art of polymer processing, but suchoperations have not been heretofore to form a laminate of the typeillustratively shown in FIG. 7.

The laminate of FIG. 7 provides unexpectedly superior liner performancewhen used to fabricate liners for use in liner-based liquid mediumpressure-dispense packages. The outer surface layer provides excellent“slip” characteristics so that a liner formed of such film is able tomove against an adjacent structure in contact with such surface, withoutundue wrinkling, binding or surface hold-up that would otherwiseincrease the susceptibility of the liner and liquid therein to particleand microbubble formation. Such laminate additionally has superiorflexural character, strength and deformation properties that render itsuitable for use in liners of even very large size. Further, thelaminate has superior permeability resistance to gases that mightotherwise pass though the liner film and enter the liner interior volumeto degrade the zero head space character when the liner is deployed in azero head space conformation.

The laminate 300 in the outer ply includes a first inner layer 304formed of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) blended with mediumdensity polyethylene (mPE) and formulated with an anti-block agent. Thislayer is provided at a thickness that is 30% of the overall thickness ofthe outer ply. The outer ply includes, progressing outwardly from theinner layer 304, a tie layer 306 at a thickness that is 8% of the totalthickness of the outer ply, a nylon layer 308 that is 8% of the totalthickness of the outer ply, an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) layer 310that is 8% of the total thickness of the outer ply, a nylon layer 312that is 8% of the total thickness of the outer ply, a tie layer 314 at athickness that is 8% of the total thickness of the outer ply, and anouter layer 316 that is formed of 30% wt. linear low densitypolyethylene (LLDPE) blended with 70% wt. high density polyethylene(HDPE) and formulated with 4% wt. of an anti-block agent. Outer layer316 constitutes 30% of the total thickness of the outer ply.

The layers in the laminate may have any suitable thicknesses consistentwith the specific end use of the laminate.

In the laminate, the nylon layers 308 and 312 do not require bonding tothe EVOH layer, since such layers naturally adhere to one another. Thenylon layers 308 and 312 nonetheless must be bonded to the outerpolyethylene layers 304 and 316, and the tie layers 306 and 314 areutilized for such purpose. The tie layers 306 and 314 are formed ofanhydride-modified high density polyethylene or of anhydride-modifiedlinear low density polyethylene, and such modified polyethylenes arehighly effective in bonding the nylon and the polyethylene layers to oneanother. Suitable modified polyethylenes of such type are commerciallyavailable from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.) asSeries 4000, Series 4100 and Series 4200 anhydride-modifiedpolyethylenes.

The overall thickness of the laminate 300 may be of any suitablethickness, as necessary or desirable in a given application of thelaminate. In application to liners for liquid media, the thickness ofthe outer ply may for example be on the order of 2-4 mils, and theoverall thickness of the laminate, including the inner ply of highpurity medium density polyethylene, may be 5-6 mils.

The anti-block agent used in the inner layer 304 and outer layer 316 ofthe outer ply can be of any suitable type. An illustrative anti-blockagent that has been used to advantage in fabricating films for theforegoing laminate is diatomaceous earth.

Such laminate may be utilized in sheet form to fabricate a liner, e.g.,by superposition of corresponding sheets, and welding of same at theiredges to form edge seams of a leak-tight character, such as byultrasonic welding or other suitable film processing technique.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a liquid medium-suppliedmanufacturing system 400, according to a further aspect of theinvention.

The FIG. 8 system 400 includes a container 402 holding liquid medium.The container 402 may be a liner-based container, including a linerholding the liquid medium in a rigid overpack or vessel, or thecontainer may alternatively be a liner-less container, in which theliquid is held in the vessel, in contact with the vessel interiorsurfaces.

The container 402 is capped with a cap 404 that in the embodiment shownmates with a dispense head 406 and may include a dip tube for immersionin the liquid, or the container alternatively can be arranged fordispensing in some other manner. The container may be equipped withpassage or coupling structure for connection to a gas source forpressure-mediated dispensing of liquid medium from the container. Thedispense head 406 is connected to a dispense line 410 that may flow to avalve assembly 408 including an actuator that is selectively actuatableto initiate the liquid dispensing operation.

From the valve assembly 408, the liquid medium is flowed in dischargeline 414 optionally having flow monitoring and control devices,represented schematically at 416, therein. The flow monitoring andcontrol devices can be of any suitable type or types, and may forexample include mass flow controllers, temperature sensors, pressuretransducers, flow rate monitors, impurity detectors, componentanalyzers, restricted flow orifices, fluid pressure regulators, etc.From the fluid medium discharge line 414, the fluid medium is flowedinto the fluid medium-utilizing tool 420.

The tool can be of any suitable type, e.g., a microelectronic devicemanufacturing tool, such as a photoresist application tool, chemicalvapor deposition chamber, ion implantation unit, etching chamber, plasmagenerator, or other apparatus appropriate to the manufacturing tool.

The manufacturing system 400 can optionally be equipped with automaticcontrol subsystems, for controlling the liquid dispensing and tooloperation process. Accordingly, the system can employ a CPU 422, whichis linked by signal transmission lines to the system components,including signal transmission line 428 to valve assembly 408, signaltransmission line 426 to flow monitoring and control devices 416, andsignal transmission line 424 to the tool 420. The signal transmissionlines may be constructed and arranged to transmit sensed or generatedsignals from the system components to the CPU 422, and/or to sendcontrol signals from the CPU 422 to the controlled components of thesystem. The CPU can be of any suitable type, e.g., a microcontroller,programmable logic controller, microprocessor, CPU of a programmablegeneral purpose computer, etc.

The manufacturing system illustratively shown in FIG. 8 can utilize anyof the various liquid medium packages and dispensing systems describedherein, or in the related applications co-filed herewith and identifiedhereinabove, for the manufacture of products of the process carried outin the manufacturing system using the dispensed liquid medium.

The zero head space conformation for the filling, storage, transport,and installation of packages containing high purity liquid media(e.g., >99.9995% pure) is highly desirable in the suppression of bubbleand particle effects, such as the formation and agglomeration ofparticles in the high purity liquid medium, and formation of bubbles andmicrobubbles upon decompression of the liquid.

The invention in another aspect accommodates the need for an expansionvolume to be provided for the liquid medium in the container in a zerohead space conformation, so that the liquid medium does not overflow ifthe liquid medium is at elevated temperature, by a liquid mediumcontainer that has a semi-flexible portion that is extensible ordeformable from an expanded or normal shape of the container, to providea compacted volume for the liquid in which the liquid is in a zero headspace conformation, or a near-zero or lowered head space conformation,for shipping, transport and installation, but in which the semi-flexibleportion of the container is expansible or extendible at the point thatthe package is opened for dispensing or access to the liquid medium.

For example, activation of the semi-flexible portion of the containermay be effected by mechanical technique, such as squeezing thecontainer, to compact it so that the liquid is in the desired low or nohead space conformation. Alternatively, the package could be subject tovacuum or a pressure differential to cause extraction of the head spacegas to collapse or flex the semi-flexible portion of the container sothat a low or no head space conformation is achieved. After eliminatingthe head space, the container is capped or otherwise maintained in thelow or no head space conformation. This results in a slightly reducedpressure in the container. The semi-flexible portion of the containermust be constructed so that the absolute pressure in the container doesnot approach the vapor pressure of the liquid medium being contained.Typically, this means that the semi-flexible portion of the containershould not reduce the pressure inside the container by more than 5 psi(0.35 kg/cm²).

A top, bottom or side wall or panel of the container may constitute thesemi-flexible portion of the container, or some other portion of thecontainer could include or function as such portion. The semi-flexibleportion could also be incorporated into the structure of the containerin any suitable manner, to effect the compaction or deformation that isproductive of the desired low or no head space conformation of thecontainer in respect of the liquid medium therein.

It will be appreciated that a zero or other low head space conformationof the container may be provided in the first instance, with asemi-flexible portion of the container being extensible or otherwiseexpandible from a normal compact shape of the container, to provide anexpansion volume for the liquid at the time that the package is openedfor dispensing or access to the liquid medium. This is the inversesituation to that discussed hereinabove, where the container is normallyin an expanded state, but is compacted to a low profile or smallerconformation to accommodate the low or no head space conformation. Forexample, the container may have a pull-out extension, such as anexpandable bellows or a fold-out passage member that increases theinterior volume available to the liquid medium in the container.

Accordingly, such approach of the invention is readily applied by theprovision of a container that is shape-shiftable to vary the interiorvolume available to the liquid medium in the container, whereby theinterior volume is selectively variable between an expanded volumetricstate providing a greater head space and a compacted volumetric stateproviding a smaller head space.

The invention in a further aspect relates to minimal head space systemsfor high purity (e.g., >99.9995% pure) liquid media, in which the headspace overlying the liquid medium in a liner or other container isselected to (i) provide sufficient space to accommodateexpansion/contraction effects, and (ii) avoid production of a saturatedpressure equal to or greater than 3 psig (0.21 kg/cm²) in the headspace, so that the liquid medium does not saturate to a pressure of 3psig or greater when mixed and dispensed.

The first criterion is necessitated by regulatory constraints thatimpose a requirement of an expansion volume in the liquid container, andthe second criterion is based on the fact that saturation pressures of 3psig (0.21 kg/cm²) or higher have been found to lead to bubble formationupon decompression of the liquid, e.g., at the point of dispensing ofthe high purity liquid medium from the liner or other container. Theobjective achieved by the second criterion is keeping the volume of gaslow enough so that even if all gas were to go into solution duringmixing and dispensing, the equilibrium vapor pressure in the solutionwould remain below 3 psig.

The foregoing therefore provides a criterion that permits a head spacevolume to be determined for a given high-purity liquid medium, that willensure the appropriate performance of the liquid, such as in the case ofmicroelectronic device manufacturing reagents that must be free ofbubbles, microbubbles and particulates, in order to be suitable for usein microelectronic device manufacturing processes.

The foregoing criterion and its determination in specific applicationsto provide a minimum head space for liquid medium in a liner or otherpackage is illustrated by the following non-limiting example.

Example

Propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) is a common reagentemployed extensively in microelectronic device manufacturing operations.For a four-liter volume of PGMEA, it was verified that if the saturatedpressure, P_(sat), of the solution is below 3 psig (0.21 kg/cm²),dissolved gases will not form an appreciable amount of bubbles upondecompression. Four liters of PGMEA were filled into the liner of aNOWPAK liner package (commercially available from ATMI, Inc., Danbury,Conn., USA) and saturated pressures were determined as a function ofhead space volume, from which it was found that if the head space volumewas increased from a substantially zero head space condition to about 10milliliters of head space, the saturation pressure of the liquid ismaintained below 3 psig, and bubble formation did not occur to anysignificant extent during decompression of the liquid.

The present invention as indicated relates generally to materialcontainment systems for storage, transport and dispensing of a widevariety of materials. In various embodiments and aspects, the inventionrelates to liners for use in material containment packages, and topackages including such liners. Still further, the invention relates tomultilayer film laminates, other type useful for manufacture of linersfor use in liner-based material packages.

Although the ensuing discussion of the present invention is primarilydirected to liner-based material containment packages utilized forstorage and dispensing of liquid materials, it will be recognized thatthe liner-based packages of the invention are not thus limited to liquidmaterials in utility, but rather are useful for storage and containmentof a wide variety of materials, including solids, solid-liquidsuspensions, liquid- and/or gas-containing materials, etc.

The materials that may be contained in liners in liner-based packages ofthe present invention include, without limitation, semiconductormanufacturing reagents, pharmaceutical compositions, high purityindustrial solvents, food products, beverages, forensic samples, waterquality samples, fuels, blood and plasma products, and plant nutrientsolutions, to name but a few. In one preferred aspect, the materialcomprises a liquid or liquid-containing composition used inmanufacturing of microelectronic device products, such as photoresist,etchant, dopant, chemical vapor deposition reagent, solvent, wafer ortool cleaning formulation, chemical mechanical planarizationcomposition, etc.

The term “microelectronic device” as used herein refers to resist-coatedsemiconductor substrates, flat-panel displays, thin-film recordingheads, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and other advancedmicroelectronic components. The microelectronic device may includepatterned and/or blanketed silicon wafers, flat-panel display substratesor polymeric, e.g., fluoropolymer, substrates. Further, themicroelectronic device may include mesoporous or microporous inorganicsolids.

As used herein, the term “zero head space” in reference to fluid in aliner means that the liner is totally filled with liquid medium, andthat there is no volume of gas overlying liquid medium in the liner.

Correspondingly, the term “near zero head space” as used herein inreference to fluid in a liner means that the liner is substantiallycompletely filled with liquid medium except for a very small volume ofgas overlying liquid medium in the liner, e.g., the volume of gas isless than 5% of the total volume of fluid in the liner, preferably beingless than 3% of the total volume of fluid, more preferably less than 2%of the total volume of fluid and most preferably, being less than 1% ofthe total volume of fluid (or, expressed another way, the volume ofliquid in the liner is greater than 95% of the total volume of theliner, preferably being more than 97% of such total volume, morepreferably more than 98% of such total volume, and most preferably morethan 99% of such total volume).

The greater the volume of the head space, the greater the likelihoodthat the overlying gas will become entrained and/or solubilized in theliquid medium, since the liquid medium will be subjected to sloshing,splashing and translation in the liner, as well as impact of the lineragainst the rigid surrounding container during transportation of thepackage. This circumstance will in turn result in the formation ofbubbles, microbubbles, and particulates in the liquid medium, whichdegrade the liquid medium, and render it potentially unsuitable for itsintended purpose. For this reason, head space is desired to be minimizedand preferably eliminated (i.e., in a zero or near-zero head spaceconformation) with complete filling of the interior volume of the linerwith liquid medium.

In one aspect, the present invention relates generally to a materialcontainment package in which material potentially susceptible to bubbleformation therein is contained, having a headspace associated therewith,in which the headspace is placed under vacuum. Under these conditions,bubbles do not persist in the material because they are collapsed by thehydrostatic pressure of the material, e.g., liquid or liquid-containingmaterial. The vacuum pressure in the headspace is reduced to the vaporpressure of the most volatile species in the contained material, anddissolved gases are removed during the filling operation prior to thesealing of the containment package. The containment package in suchsealed state must be able to accommodate the mechanical forcesassociated with the vacuum, without collapsing or sustaining adverseeffect on its structural integrity.

The containment package desirably is substantially impermeable toatmospheric gases or other gas species in the ambient environment of thecontainment package, to avoid circumstances in which the pressureoutside the containment package changes to such an extent that it causesformation of bubbles in the contained material.

In instances in which the containment package includes a liner disposedin a container, the permeation barrier can be constituted at least inpart by the liner.

In another aspect of the invention, a material containment package isprovided, including a vessel having a port therein. A balloon isinserted into the vessel and inflated, whereby fluid is displaced fromthe interior volume of the vessel through the port, following which theport is closed and the interior volume of the vessel contains theinflated balloon. In such configuration, the balloon serves as apressure equilibration component of the package, to accommodate internalpressure changes due to expansion and contraction of the containedmaterial, e.g., liquid.

As applied to a liquid containment system, this arrangement ischaracterized by the absence of a gas/liquid interface (since the gas inthe interior volume of the container is displaced through the port bythe inflation of the balloon to an extent ensuring complete expulsion ofgas from the interior volume of the container). Since there is nogas/liquid interface, the formation and entrainment of bubbles in theliquid is avoided.

In one embodiment of the above-described liquid containment system,mobility of the inflated balloon in the container is constrained by useof an open cell foam material introduced into the balloon as aninflation/expansion medium that is used to positionally fix and solidifythe balloon after the headspace gas in the container is eliminated fromthe interior volume.

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a material container, accordingto one embodiment of the invention

As illustrated, the material container 10 includes a vessel 12 having atop wall 14, floor 16 and circumscribing sidewall 18, which togetherenclose an interior volume 20 of the container. The container on its topwall 14 includes a port 42, defining a port opening 40, and a port 46,defining a port opening 48.

The vessel 12 is shown as containing liquid 24, which has beenintroduced to the interior volume 20, through port 42 or 46, in a priorfilling operation. The liquid 24 is overlaid by a headspace 22,containing air or other gas.

Disposed in the interior volume 20, as secured to the port 42, is aninflatable balloon 30 defining an enclosed volume 32 therein. Coupledwith the port, by means of a feed line 34, is a source 36 of inflationgas, such as nitrogen. The inflation gas is flowed from the source 36 infeed line 34 into the enclosed volume 32 of the balloon 30, forinstallation of the balloon. As the balloon is inflated, it displacesgas from headspace 22 through the opening 48 of port 46, in thedirection indicated by arrow A.

The inflation operation is continued until the balloon 30 is inflated asshown in FIG. 10, to completely expel the headspace gas from the vessel,whereupon the port 46 is plugged by plug 50 and the port 42 is closed bycap 60. The vessel then is in a zero headspace state (no gas overlyingthe liquid), or a near-zero headspace state, with the balloon 30containing the inflation gas in the enclosed volume 32, wherebyexpansion or contraction of the liquid as a result of temperature orother ambient variation will correspondingly compress or expand theballoon, so that stress on the interior walls of the vessel by theliquid is avoided.

The cap 60 and the plug 50 may be complementarily threaded to mate withcooperative threading on the outside surfaces of the ports 42 and 46,respectively. Alternatively, the cap 60 and plug 50 may be lockinglycoupled to the respective ports in any other suitable manner, to provideleak-tight closure of the respective port openings.

In another embodiment, in lieu of the use of an inflation gas, theballoon may be expanded by injection of a non-gaseous medium, such as asolid, semi-solid, gel, or other medium into the enclosed volume 32 ofthe balloon. Such introduced material may be cured, e.g., bycross-linking, thermosetting, or other cure modality, to establish anenlarged volume that is positionally fixed in the interior volume 20 ofthe vessel, yet is able to accommodate changes in pressure of thecontained liquid in the vessel without adverse effect.

In another embodiment, the container 10 shown in FIG. 9 may beconstituted without the balloon 30, and with vacuum pressure exerted onthe headspace 22 by a vacuum pump, for extraction of a headspace gas inthe direction indicated by arrow A, while port opening 40 is capped by asuitable closure. By such arrangement, the liquid 24 in the vessel 12can be placed under vacuum conditions for storage and transport of theliquid.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a multi-layer liner for usein a liner-based package for containment of material. In the multilayerliner, a highly gas-permeable inner layer is attached to a lowgas-permeable outer layer. The inner and outer layers may be made of anysuitable materials that have the specified permeability characteristicsand are otherwise suitable for containment of the material to be storedin and dispensed from the liner-based package. For example, the innerlayer may be formed of a polytetrafluoroethylene film, and the outerliner may be formed of polyethylene.

A special fitment is required for introduction of a suitable gas intothe space between the respective liners, as hereinafter described ingreater detail. Such arrangement allows a specific gas or other suitablechemistry to be introduced into the inter-liner space, which isbeneficial to the contained material. The beneficial chemistry thereforemay include a gas that serves to extend the shelf life of a chemicalcomposition stored in the inner liner, a ripening gas for unripe fruitstored in the inner liner, or other gaseous medium or chemistry thatdesirably diffuses through the inner liner into the interior volume ofthe inner liner, to benefit the material held in such inner liner.

At the point of use, any residual gas in the inter-liner volume and theevacuated from such volume prior to dispensing operation, so that therespective inner and outer liners are in contact with one another. Atthat point, drive gas can be introduced into the container, into thespace between the outer liner and the interior walls of the container,to effect pressure-dispensing of material from the inner liner. Thedrive gas between the outer liner and the interior walls of thecontainer therefore progressively collapses and compacts the linerassembly, to force the contained material therefrom, in the dispensingoperation.

In another embodiment, the inter-liner space can be filled with a gasthat is of low permeability in respect of either film bounding suchspace. In such embodiment, the introduced gas is placed into the spacebetween the inner and outer liners, in order to provide a “barrier gaslayer” therebetween.

FIGS. 11-20 illustrate the fabrication of such double liner-basedcontainer and the components and structures in the various assemblysteps of the fabrication.

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the inner liner 100, comprising anassembly 101 of two superposed sheets of polymeric film that are inregister with one another with respect to their corresponding edges. Thesheets are formed of a suitable polymeric film material, such aspolytetrafluoroethylene, and are heat sealed to one another at edgeregions thereof, including top heat seal 105, bottom heat seal 106, andside heat seals 103 and 104. The front panel of the inner liner hasjoined thereto a fitment 102, by means of which liquid or other materialcan be introduced into the interior compartment for containment therein.The fitment 102 may be formed of perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) resin or othersuitable material.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of an outer liner 110, comprising anassembly 111 of two superposed sheets of polymeric film that are inregister with one another with respect to their corresponding edges. Thesheets are formed of suitable polymeric film material, such aspolyethylene or other polyolefin material, and are heat sealed to oneanother at edge regions thereof, including bottom heat seal 115 and sideseals 113 and 114. The front panel of the outer liner has a port fitment112 that is configured to cooperatively mate with the fitment 102 of theinner liner (FIG. 11). The fitment 112 may be formed of high-densitypolyethylene, or other suitable material of construction.

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the double liner structureincluding inner liner assembly 101 (of FIG. 11) positioned inside outerliner assembly 111 (of FIG. 12), with the fitment 102 of the inner linercooperatively mated with the fitment 112 of the outer liner.

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the finished double liner assembly120, in which the front and back polymeric film panels of the outerliner assembly have been heat sealed to one another along top heat seal122, and air has been removed from the space between the inner and outerliners. The space between the inner and outer liners may subsequently befilled with a gas beneficial to contents of the inner liner, orotherwise constituting a desired barrier gas in such space, as discussedhereinabove.

FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of a standard fitment 140, of a typewhich may be augmented as shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 16 shows a standardfitment body 144 that has been modified to constitute augmented fitment142, by the provision of a collar 150, featuring an O-ring groove 146therein, and hemispherical locktabs 148 integrally formed with thecollar.

The collar 150 may be formed as a separate piece that is subsequentlybonded or otherwise secured to the standard fitment 144, e.g., byultrasonic welding, solvent welding, adhesive bonding, or other mode ofattachment, to form the augmented fitment 142. Alternatively, the collar150 may be integrally cast or molded as part of the fitment 142.

The collar is formed with three hemispherical locktabs 148 (only one isvisible in FIG. 16) around the periphery of the collar, whichcooperatively made with the outer liner fitment described more fullyhereinafter.

FIG. 17 is an elevation view of the augmented fitment 142 of FIG. 8,with O-ring 152 disposed in the O-ring groove 146 (see FIG. 16). TheO-ring is added after the fitment 142 is welded to the inner liner (notshown in FIG. 17; see FIG. 11).

FIG. 18 is an elevation view of the outer liner fitment 160 includingthe central axle section 161 and peripheral flange 162 extendingradially outwardly from the lower portion of axle section 161.

FIG. 19 is an elevation view, in cross-section, of the outer linerfitment 160 of FIG. 18, showing the central axle section 161 ascircumferentially bounding the central bore 164, and the peripheralflange 162 extending radially outwardly from the lower portion of theaxle section 161.

FIG. 20 is an elevation view, in partial cut-away and cross-section, ofthe completed fitment 142 as including the standard fitment 144 to whichthe collar has been mounted as described in connection with FIGS. 16 and17. The standard fitment 144 therefore constitutes a lower flangeportion to which the inner liner is welded, and a main cylindricalportion that circumscribes a central bore for introduction of materialinto the inner liner, or dispensing of material from such inner liner.

The peripheral flange 162 of the outer liner fitment is welded to theouter liner (not shown in FIG. 20) and the outer liner fitment then issnap-fitted over the inner liner fitment 142, so that the O-ring 152provides a link-tight seal, and so that the hemispherical locktabs 148secure the axle section 161 on the outer liner fitment 160 in sealedposition.

By such cooperative arrangement of the respective inner liner and outerliner fitment members, a fitment assembly is provided on theliner-within-a-liner containment structure, which seals the spacebetween the inner liner and outer liner and permits gas introduced intosuch space before the snap-fit sealing of the respective fitments to oneanother to be sealingly retained in such space, e.g., as a barrier orstabilizing medium, to protect or extend the shelf life of the materialcontained in the inner liner.

Subsequently, at the point of use, the fluid in the space between theinner liner and outer liner is suitably evacuated, e.g., by uncouplingthe outer liner fitment from the inner liner fitment and applyingpressure to the outer surface of the outer liner, to collapse the outerliner against the inner liner, to place the liner assembly in a statewhereupon further application of pressure will effect thepressure-dispensing of the contained material from the interior volumeof the inner liner through the inner liner fitment 142.

The above-described liner assembly can be disposed in an overpack, whichmay be constituted as a rigid outer container, and thepressure-dispensing operation may be conducted with introduction of gasinto the space between the overpack and the outer liner of the linerassembly.

The double-liner and double-fitment structure described in connectionwith FIGS. 11-20 therefore permits a highly efficient containment ofmaterial for storage, transport and dispensing, and enables a barrier orprotective medium to be interposed in the space between the inner andouter liners, as part of a package in which the liner assembly isdisposed in the interior volume of an outer containment vessel.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a composite liner 220 asschematically shown in FIG. 21, comprising a primary liner 222 attachedat its upper end to fitment 228 having flange 230 at its distal end, fordispensing of fluid from the liner in the direction indicated by arrow Ato a downstream semiconductor manufacturing facility 250 comprising asemiconductor manufacturing tool utilizing such fluid. The primary liner220 is arranged as shown, with a secondary liner 224 penetrating thewall of the primary liner 222, whereby a portion of the secondary liner224 is interiorly disposed in the primary liner 222, in the interiorvolume thereof.

The secondary liner 224 constitutes a gas-permeable sleeve in theportion thereof that is interiorly disposed in the primary liner 222,with such sleeve being gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable, wherebygases in the liquid or headspace in the primary liner 222 can beextracted through the gas-permeable portion of the secondary liner 224,when the secondary liner 224 is coupled with a suitable vacuum source(not shown in FIG. 21) by means of the vacuum suction line 226.

By applying vacuum suction on the interior sleeve portion of thesecondary liner 224, dissolved and entrained gases will be extractedfrom the liquid in the primary liner 222, to suppress the formation ofthe microbubbles in the liquid, as well as in downstream flow circuitryand components due to pressure drop of dispensed liquid along thedispensing path. The gas-permeable sleeve portion of the secondary liner224 preferably is permeable to atmospheric gases, as well as thepressurizing gas that is used for pressure-dispensing of the liquid fromthe primary liner 222.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a liner-based package asschematically shown in FIG. 22, as comprising a rigid outer container310 enclosing an interior volume 312 within which it is disposed a liner314 suspended from the neck 316 of the vessel.

In typical practice, the liners are filled with liquid in an ambientnitrogen or ambient air environment, which results in correspondinglynitrogen-saturated or air-saturated liquid, over a wide range ofsaturation. If this liquid is highly saturated, then even minorfluctuations in temperature or pressure conditions can result in theformation of bubbles in the liquid. Such bubble formation susceptibilityis increased if nitrogen or clean dry air is used to pressurize theannular space between the liner and the rigid outer container, since thenet flux of gas from the annular space into the bag further increasesthe amount of dissolved gas in the liquid.

The present invention addresses this deficiency, by utilizing a gas inthe annular space that is different from the gas in the ambientenvironment at the time of filling of the liner with liquid. Byutilizing a different gas in the annular space, a concentration gradientis established that results in dissolved and entrained gas in the liquiddiffusing through the liner into the annular space between the liner andthe container. Such outgoing permeation of gases from the liquid throughthe liner into the annular space reduces the concentration of theoriginal gas species in the liquid, and thereby decreases thesusceptibility of the liquid to form microbubbles.

Thus, by way of example, the liner may be filled with liquid in thefirst instance, under nitrogen atmosphere, as a result of which theliquid is at least partially saturated with nitrogen. If helium gas thenit is introduced into the annular space between the liner and thecontainer, then the nitrogen in the liquid will diffuse through theliner and enter the annular space containing helium. While acorresponding concentration gradient will be established for the heliumin the annular space, resulting in its diffusing through the liner intothe liquid contained therein, the rate of such diffusion will be low anda significant period of time will be required for the helium to reachsaturation conditions in the liquid in the liner.

It will be appreciated that the specific gases may be selected, toconstitute the ambient environment when the liquid is being filled intothe liner, and to constitute the different gas with which the annularspace of the liner-based package is filled after the liquid fillingoperation has been completed.

FIG. 22 thus shows helium at 14.7 psig being filled into the annularspace 312 of the liner-based package, and the liquid in the liner beingin a zero headspace (“ZHS”) or near-zero headspace conformation,saturated with nitrogen at 0 psig as a result of the liquid filloperation taking place under inert nitrogen atmosphere. FIG. 22 alsoshows liquid being flowed out of the liner (“Liquid Out”), which mayoccur when the helium gas is introduced to the annular space in interiorvolume 312, to establish the zero headspace or near-zero headspaceconformation, or subsequently at the point of the use, when helium gasmay be introduced as a driver gas for pressure-dispensing of the liquid.Thus, the different gas species in the annular space may be employed asa “packing” or “fill” gas at the time of liquid package preparation, andthe same or another different gas may be employed as the drive gas forpressure-dispensing.

Although the foregoing discussion has been directed to the use of singlecomponent gases in the liquid and in the annular space of theliner-based package, it will be appreciated that the originally packagedliquid may contain multiple gas species as dissolved and/or entrainedcomponents in the liquid, and likewise that the gas employed in theannular space of the liquid containment package may be a multicomponentgas.

The invention therefore contemplates the use of a gas medium in theannular space between the liner and the container that effectsdiffusional extraction of the dissolved and entrained gases from theliquid through the liner, to minimize the formation of the microbubblesand/or the effervescing of the liquid as the liquid pressure declines inthe dispensing operation, in the flow circuitry and componentsassociated there with (e.g., pumps, restricted flow orifice elements,etc.).

The gas medium in the annular space of the liner-based package desirablyis a gas mixture, since the concentration of gas in the liquid withinthe liner can only rise to a maximum concentration equal to itsconcentration in the annular space gas, so the in-permeating gas fromthe annular space into the liquid will be below its saturation pressure.

As another approach for suppressing the formation of microbubbles andthey contained the liquid, the ambient environment during filling of theliner with liquid can be constituted by a mixture of gases that all areall present at low mole fraction in the ambient gas mixture. Theindividual gases are each desirably present in the ambient gas mixtureat levels that are below their saturation pressures under use(dispensing) conditions.

FIG. 23 is a sectional elevation view of a multilayer laminate useful inthe general practice of the present invention for construction of linersadapted for use in liner-based material containment packages.

As illustrated, the multilayer laminate includes an innermostpolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer, having a tie layer on its outerface, intermediate the innermost PTFE layer and the next adjacent outerPTFE layer. The outer layer instead of PTFE may be constituted by otherfluoropolymer or polymeric film.

On the outer face of the outer layer of PTFE is a second tie layer,intermediate the outer PTFE layer and the next adjacent barrier layer.The barrier layer on its outer face has a third tie layer, intermediatethe barrier layer and the outermost abrasion film layer.

The multilayer laminate thus includes seven successive layers, includingin sequence (from the innermost layer to the outermost layer) a PTFElayer, a first tie layer, a PTFE layer, a second tie layer, a barrierlayer, a third tie layer and an abrasion film layer.

The first tie layers function to seal successive PTFE layers to oneanother, so there is no path to allow movement of liquids through theseal between these two successive layers. Since PTFE in thin-film formis susceptible to the presence of pinholes, as illustrated in the FIG.23 drawing, the use of two PTFE layers on either side of the first tielayer serves to dead-end the pinholes in the respective layers of PTFE,since there is a low probability that pinholes in the first and secondPTFE layers will be aligned with one another.

In the multilayer laminate, the innermost PTFE layer is theliquid-contacting layer of the laminate, and therefore such layer isdesirably highly inert in character. If the tie layer is formed of ahighly inert material, then the tie layer can replace the inner PTFElayer.

It is very important to prevent liquid from reaching the barrier layerof the laminate, in order to maintain the liquid fully contained withinthe liner. The fabrication material of the barrier layer is selectedbased on desired properties for such layer. Barrier layer materials ofconstruction include any suitable materials, but in preferred practice,such materials typically fall into three classes: metals, e.g.,aluminum; ceramics, e.g., glass; and polymers with high barrierproperties, e.g., EVOH, polyamide (nylon), polyvinylidene chloride(PVDC), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polyether-ether-ketone(PEEK) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP).

The considerations involved in the material selection for the barrierlayer include factors such as the following; ease of manufacturing;potential for contamination of liner contents; ease of formation;weldability; susceptibility to pinholing, particularly when flexed; andpermeability to gases, water and the material to be retained in theliner, among others. The second tie layer is disposed between the outerPTFE layer and the barrier layer.

Additional barrier layers may be employed in the laminate to providespecific blocking of diffusion of particular species.

The outermost layer in the multilayer laminate is an abrasion film. Thethird tie layer is disposed between the barrier layer and the abrasionfilm. The purpose of the abrasion film layer is to protect the barrierlayer from damage, as well as to prevent contamination deriving from thebarrier layer, e.g., when the barrier layer is of a potentiallycontaminating material such as aluminum.

The abrasion film may be formed of any suitable material that iseffective to protect the other layers in the laminate. Examples ofillustrative materials that may be utilized to form the abrasion film inthe broad practice of the present invention include, without limitation,fluoropolymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyether-ether-ketone(PEEK), etc.

The thicknesses of the layers in the multilayer laminate shown in FIG.23 may be any suitable thicknesses that are effective to provide goodperformance by the laminate. In a specific embodiment, the inner PTFElayer has a thickness in a range of from about 0.25 to about 5 mils, thefirst tie layer has a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 to about0.4 mils, the outer PTFE layer has a thickness in a range of from about0.25 to about 5 mils, the second tie layer has a thickness in a range offrom about 0.1 to about 0.4 mils, the barrier layer has a thickness in arange of from about 0.25 to about 5 mils, the third tie layer has athickness in a range of from about 0.1 to about 0.4 mils, and theabrasion film layer has a thickness in a range of from about 0.25 toabout 5 mils. In such embodiment, each of the tie layers can be formedof fluorocarbon adhesives, polyethylene adhesives or other adhesives,such as acrylics, cyanoacrylates, polyamines, epoxies, hot-meltadhesives, polyurethanes, and silicones. The barrier layer in suchembodiment can be formed of aluminum, ceramics, EVOH, polyamide (nylon),polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE),polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), or othersuitable material.

The abrasion film in such embodiment can be formed of fluoropolymers,polyethylene, polypropylene, polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), or othersuitable material.

The liner-based packages of the invention can include a vessel, in whichthe liner is disposed, formed of any suitable material of construction,such as plastics, polymers, ceramics, metals, composite materials, etc.In applications where pressurizing gas is introduced into the interiorvolume of the vessel, exterior to the liner disposed therein, to effectpressure-dispensing of the materials contained in the liner, the vesselis constructed of material that accommodates the stresses of thepressures involved in progressively compacting the liner to force thematerial from the liner through the dispensing passages of the package.

In applications in which the pressure of the pressurizing gas forpressure-dispensing of the liner contents is substantial, e.g., on theorder of 10 psig and above, it generally is preferred to employ vesselsthat are constructed of metal. Any suitable metals may be employed forsuch purpose, including steel or other ferrous alloy materials,titanium, brass, copper, etc. A particularly preferred metal materialfor the vessel, based on weight and cost considerations, is aluminum.

The invention in another aspect relates to a liner-based package inwhich the vessel in which the liner is disposed utilizes a first linerfor containment of the material to be dispensed, and a second liner fora pressurizing fluid, which is selectively inflatable to exert pressureon the first liner during pressure-dispensing of the material from thefirst liner. In such arrangement, the vessel, as an overpack containingthe first and second liners, can be vented and at ambient pressureconditions, or it may alternatively be at a subatmospheric pressureallowing the first liner to de-gas its contents so that any entrainedgas content of the material in the first liner is extracted from thematerial in the first liner.

The advantages of such material-containing liner/pressurizing linerarrangement include the ability to optimize the liner materials ofconstruction so that the chemical reagent or other contents of thepackage can be stored and subsequently dispensed at high purity, withoutformation of microbubbles and without the presence of dissolved gasestherein.

In this respect, liner materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene andother fluoropolymers are desirable for maintaining high purity instoring chemical reagents and other substances that must be supplied atzero or near-zero contaminant concentrations, but such polymers exhibitpoor gas barrier behavior. Although this poor gas barrier characteristicis overcome in the use of multilayer laminate liners, e.g., in whichpolytetrafluoroethylene is used in combination with plies of materialhaving good gas barrier character, to provide a multilayer liner havingacceptable gas barrier qualities, such multilayer liners suffer fromproblems of gas entrapment between layers in the laminate, contaminationsusceptibility from adhesives used to bond or tie successive layers inthe laminate to one another, and reduced ability of the laminate toaccommodate processing steps necessary to form the liner, such as wherelayers of material providing good gas barrier character have low meltingpoints and constrain bonding or other processing operations needed toform the liner article.

The use of separate liners, one containing the material to be stored inand subsequently dispensed from the package, and one or more otherpressure-dispensing liners, adapted to exert pressure on the storageliner during dispensing, resolves such problems of the multilayerlaminate liners. The “contents” liner, containing the chemical reagentor other material to be dispensed, is inflated, filled and connected forpressure dispensing in a normal manner. The “pressurizing” liner is thusoutside of and functionally separate from the contents liner, and may beformed of an inexpensive material of construction, such as aninexpensive single layer polyethylene film, such no stringent barrierproperties are required for such liner.

At the point of use, the second (pressurizing) liner can be inflated,e.g., by pressurized air or other suitable gas or liquid. As thepressurizing liner is inflated, it applies force against the exteriorsurface of the first (contents) liner, to force the contents to bedispensed from first liner. The pressure of the pressurizing medium inthe second liner therefore may be modulated as necessary to effectdispensing of contents from the first liner in the desired amount and atthe desired rate.

Throughout such dispensing operation, the air in the vessel, outside thetwo liners, remains at atmospheric pressure, as it is vented to theatmosphere, e.g., through a vent line, valve or port. As such, nopressure gas will permeate the first liner, and the contents of thefirst liner will remain at high purity and free of bubbles.Alternatively, the gas in the vessel outside the first and second linersmay be at subatmospheric or superatmospheric pressure. For example, theinterior volume of the vessel may be subjected to vacuum to effectoutgassing of any entrained gas in the first liner, by permeationthereof through the first liner. Alternatively, the interior volume ofthe vessel may be pressurized with a specific gas medium, to infuse suchgas medium, e.g., an inert gas or protective gas, into the contents ofthe first liner during dispensing operation.

Thus, each of the first and second liners may be individually optimizedfor its respective individual function(s), so that the respective linerscan be constituted of materials of construction appropriate to their useand at reduced cost, relative to the use of multilayer liners thatrequire cost/performance compromises to be made in their design.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a liner-based package of abag-in-bottle type, including a vessel 400 having a dispensing connectorassembly 410 coupled thereto and arranged for dispensing material fromthe package, as generally indicated by dispensed material flow arrow412. The vessel 400 in this package encloses an interior volume 402 inwhich is disposed a first liner 404 holding the material to bedispensed, and a second liner 406 that is inflated with a pressurizinggas whose flow is generally indicated by pressure gas inflow arrow 408.

In operation, pressure gas is flowed into the second liner 406 tosufficient extent to inflate the second liner and cause it to exertpressure on the first liner 404 so that the first liner is progressivelycompacted under applied pressure and the material in the first liner isdispensed through the connector, e.g., to exterior flow circuitry orother apparatus for use of the dispensed material, e.g., an ultra-highpurity photoresist for manufacture of a microelectronic product such asa semiconductor device, flat panel display, or the like. The vessel 400may be vented so that the interior volume gas is displaced from thevessel as the inflation of the second liner 406 progresses (vent notshown in FIG. 24).

Although the package is illustratively shown in FIG. 24 as comprisingonly two liners, it will be appreciated that multiple pressurizingliners may be employed in specific embodiments of the invention, andthat the liners may be of various shapes and conformations, asappropriate to their use. For example, the pressurizing liner may beformed with an annular conformation so that it circumscribes the firstcontents liner, as a sleeve thereon, so that pressure is appliedcircumferentially in a uniform radially inwardly fashion on the firstliner in the dispensing operation.

It will also be appreciated that the second pressurizing liner, insteadof being retained in the interior volume of the vessel in an uninflatedcondition prior to dispensing, may alternatively be partially or fullyinflated to positionally secure the first liner in place in the interiorvolume, so as to avoid movement of the first liner in the interiorvolume during transport of the package and prior to dispensingoperation. The second liner can thus be sealed at a pressure thatpositionally stabilizes the first liner in the package, and at the pointof use, the second liner can be additionally inflated to an extent andat a rate appropriate for pressure dispense of the first liner contents.

While the invention has been has been described herein in reference tospecific aspects, features and illustrative embodiments of theinvention, it will be appreciated that the utility of the invention isnot thus limited, but rather extends to and encompasses numerous othervariations, modifications and alternative embodiments, as will suggestthemselves to those of ordinary skill in the field of the presentinvention, based on the disclosure herein. Correspondingly, theinvention as hereinafter claimed is intended to be broadly construed andinterpreted, as including all such variations, modifications andalternative embodiments, within its spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liner arranged to hold a liquid orliquid-containing material, the liner comprising: a first sheetincluding an inner ply adjacent to a separate outer ply that includes atleast one of an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) layer and a nylon layer; asecond sheet including an inner ply adjacent to a separate outer plythat includes at least one of an EVOH layer and a nylon layer; and atleast one welded edge seam joining the first sheet to the second sheetproximate to edges of the first sheet and the second sheet to form aliner adapted to hold a liquid or liquid-containing material therein.